Improvement in bee-hives



einem sans gaat eine.

Leners Patna No. 105,037, *decently 5, 187e.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters' Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID S. BURGET, of Martinsburg. Borough, in the county of Blair and State of. Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Bee-Hives, of which the following. is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing.

My invention consist-s in a novel manner ot' cou-1 'structing a body provided with a hollowremovable Afrar'nes, detached.

In building my hive I construct a rectangular body,

l A, and provide it with a hollow detachable top, a, an

inclined bottom, b, which projects so ns to form a lighting-board for the-bees, and a hinged door, c, of the full size of the front side.

Within the top a is a chamber, g, communicating with the interior ot' the hive' orbody A by an opening, c, over which latter a slide, h, is located, for the purpose of ,closing the opening when necessary, one

'end of this slide projecting in front, as shown in fig. 1, so that it may be operated from the outside..

Iu-the front side of the top is a glass window, p, through which thel interior of chamber g may be ex amiued, and also an opening provided with a pin or. plug, r, and through which opening smoke is blown when required, as hereinafter explained.

Across the lower part ot' the body, at fthe front side, a strip, o, is secured, suicie'nt room being left between it and the bottom b to admit of the vpassage of the bees in and out, as this forms the only entrance to the hive.

The under side of the door c is cut away, so as to permit the passage of bees under'it when'closed, and through the sides of the hive slides e are inserted, for closing the passage under b ar o, `'when necessary.

Across the front, and along the inner sides of the body A, cleats or strips j are secured, for the purposek of supporting and guiding boxes or drawers B,v as

shown in figs. 1 and 3, and of which there may be any desired number, with, ofcourse, a corresponding numberof cleats.

These drawers are made of the full width and depth of the hive, and the properheight tot snugly between the cross-cleats, and. they are each provided in their front side with a. glass window, k, and a hole closed by a pin or plug, l, as shown in fig. 1.

Within all except'tbe lowermost of the drawers a series of vremovable comb-frames a arev s uspended,

which, as they are filled with comb, may be removed independently of one another, as in ,any of the movable-frame hives. now in use.

The lower drawers of the series are provided with a sexies of parallel bars or strips, on the upper side only, which 'barsmay or may not be removable, as desired.

Instead of using the movable frames n, stationary bars may be secured at the top and bottom ot the drawers, those at the top opposite those at thebottom.

When the 'drawers are all inserted, and the slides c opened, the bees can pass in through the space under bar o, and then ascend between the frame n, l(or bars, as the case may`be,) to any desired drawer-aud frame, and, if theslide h is open, into the chamber. g, and by opening `the door c, the interior ot' the drawers may be inspected through the windows k, without permitting the escape of the bees by any other than the regular passage-way. y

When darkness is required within the hive, the door c is closed. This is also done when any of the drawers are withdrawn, so. as to prevent the escape ot' the bees through the front,-and to protect them from the weather.

1 1f, for lany purpose, -it is desired to confine the bees while examining or cleaning the interior ot' the hive, the plugl of the bottom dra-wer is withdrawn, andsmoke driven in through the hole, and thus the bees causedto ascend into chamber g, where they may be confined by 'closing slide h.

When it isrdesired to examine or remove any `particular drawer, smoke is blown in below, until the bees pass into the upper part of the hive, and then a sheet of tin is inserted under the drawer next above,

so as toform a' partition and A prevent the descent et'v the bees.

If at any time after closing the slide hv bees are found remaining in the chamber g, they are allowedI to escapeby removing the -plug fr. v v

Wvhen beesare to be transferred fromthe hive to another, a sheet of tin is 'shoved in above the upperV drawer, and the top a. lifted o' and replaced by the empty hive. "he tin is then withdrawn, and the bees, by smoke or otherwise, driven up into the'new hive.

In this manner I produce a vsimple and eflicient hive, which can be readily inspectedand kept clear `of insects, iu'which the bees cannot build their combV fast, and any particular part of which may be cleared of bees at will, and fromfany part of .which honey may be taken, as desired.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim is- The herein-described vbee-hive, consisting of the upright case or body A, having the door c, with the slides e, thc removable chambered top a,. and the boxes B, provided with,- slats or frames, ,said boxes being so arranged as to. permita lateral passage ot' the bees .between them, fall substantiallyl as described.-

Witnesses:

J. O. EvERHARtr, JOHN BRENNAMAN.

DAVID S.' BURGET. 

